RENK Launches HSWL 406 Transmission for European Main Battle Tanks

Armored Vehicle Technologies RENK Launches HSWL 406 Transmission to Streamline European Main Battle Tank Fleets

2025-09-03 Source: Press release 1 min Reading Time

Related Vendor

RENK Group AG has unveiled its latest development in military drive technology: the HSWL 406 transmission. Designed for heavy tracked vehicles weighing 50–70+ tons, the system aims to support platform consolidation across NATO forces while enabling next-generation digital and autonomous capabilities.

The new HSWL 406 modular transmission will equip next-generation European main battle tanks, enabling digital control and cross-platform logistics.(Source: Image: RENK Group AG) — The new HSWL 406 modular transmission will equip next-generation European main battle tanks, enabling digital control and cross-platform logistics.
(Source: Image: RENK Group AG)

Augsburg, Germany – RENK Group AG announced on August 25, 2025, the start of development for its new HSWL 406 transmission, engineered specifically for future main battle tank platforms.With Europe’s current fleet of multiple tracked vehicle platforms leading to logistical fragmentation and high maintenance costs, RENK sees the HSWL 406 as a key step toward standardization.

“Hardly any NATO tracked vehicle operates without RENK technology,” said Dr. Alexander Sagel, CEO of RENK Group AG. “The modular HSWL 406 transmission will increase spare parts availability, simplify logistics, and enable cross-platform maintenance.”

The transmission’s modular design ensures compatibility with multiple engine manufacturers and allows for flexible configurations across different weight classes without altering the core vehicle architecture. According to Michael Masur, CEO Vehicle Mobility Solutions, RENK GmbH, the new system will set “a technological benchmark for heavy armored vehicles by combining modularity, digitalization, and performance at competitive cost.”

Built on RENK’s ATREX drive concept introduced in 2024, the HSWL 406 integrates Drive-by-Wire functionality and is prepared for future autonomous vehicle capabilities via a digital interface. The first vehicle integration is planned for mid-2027, followed by customer trials and qualification.

RENK recently demonstrated its rapid development capability with the HSWL 076 transmission, delivered from concept to market-ready product in under two years.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.